BLET News
BLET announces tentative agreements with two short line railroads, including a significant first at Utah Central
The BLET has reached tentative agreements with two short line railroads: the Utah Central Railway and the Tacoma Municipal Belt Railway (Tacoma Rail). Utah Central The Utah Central tentative agreement is significant. If ratified, it would represent a first-ever union...
Members discuss UP-NS merger at 12th annual Kansas City Hub meeting
Front row, from left: Joe Ferris, LC Div. 152; Jeff Jones, LC Div. 609; Kevin Sexton, BLET VP; Chris Mullin, LC Div. 336; Mark Wallace, National President; Dave Estes, National S-T.; Gary Best, First VP; Joey Rice, LC Div. 81; Tim Morgan, Missouri SLB Chairman; and...
Women’s History Month: Steelworkers make history with swearing-in of Roxanne Brown as the union’s first female International President
On March 1, the United Steelworkers (USW) union made history with the installation of Roxanne Brown as International President. She is the first woman and first person of color to lead the major industrial union since it was founded in 1942. Born in Kingston, Jamaica,...
BLET members asked to make their voices heard by signing petition in support of No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act (H.R. 5475)
As part of the BLET’s effort to make members and other railroaders eligible for the overtime tax relief that most other workers received through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July 2025, the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference have launched a petition in...
Last Run: Leland Eoff retires after 48 years of railroading, 44 years of BLET membership
Leland Eoff of BLET Division 197 (San Antonio, Texas) retired in January 2026 after 48 years of service. Eoff has over 44 years of membership in the BLET and served Division 197 for several years as President and Vice President. Division 197 President Jason...
PEB 254 sides with rail labor unions in LIRR contract dispute, unions call on MTA to settle
On March 16, Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 254, the second board assigned to the long-running contract dispute between a coalition of five railroad unions and the Long Island Rail Road, like an earlier appointed board of experts, recommended raises and...
BLET and BMWED working together for Secure Tracks Act
Legislation introduced in Congress, with support from BLET, the Teamsters Rail Conference and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, would put into federal law the current long-standing requirement that railroad tracks are visually inspected twice a week while...
Teamsters Rail Conference concludes quadrennial convention
“The Teamsters Rail Conference today is stronger, more unified, and more influential than it has ever been,” said Mark Wallace, President of the Teamsters Rail Conference and BLET National President, in his keynote report to delegates during the Rail Conference’s...
State Legislative Board seeks to honor fallen member Lou Shuster
The BLET’s Ohio State Legislative Board conducted its 18th quadrennial meeting last week. Chairman John Esterly was reelected to his second term of office. A CSX locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 34 (Columbus, Ohio), Esterly hired out in 2011 and has...
Ballots mailed in tentative agreement with Indiana & Ohio Railway
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement with the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY). Ballots were mailed to members last week. If ratified by the members, the agreement will run through 2031 and provide a 7% general wage increase (GWI) in 2026, 4.5% GWIs each year...
LIRR labor coalition presents case to a second Presidential Emergency Board
In early March, a White House-appointed mediation panel, Presidential Emergency Board 254, heard from five rail unions, including BLET, as well as the Long Island Rail Road’s management on proposals for a new agreement in the years-long contract dispute at the...
A message from BLET National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes: Modern, practical and accessible officer training leads to a stronger BLET
Brothers and Sisters, It has been the honor of my career to serve this organization, first as a Local Division officer, then as a General Committee officer, and now as your National Secretary-Treasurer. Having worked at every level of this union, I understand the...
U.S. union membership reached 16-year high in 2025
It’s not just railroaders at short lines joining unions. The number of workers covered under union contracts jumped to a 16-year high in 2025, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). About 16.5 million workers were covered by a union contract...
Education & Training: Annual LM-2 workshop
The BLET Education & Training Department hosted a hybrid training class for LM-2 filers from February 23-26, with a total of 24 officers participating — both in person at the BLET National Division Training Center and virtually via Zoom. The workshop was designed...
Replacement ballots now available in BLET-Indiana Rail Road contract vote
BLET members are currently voting on a tentative agreement with the Indiana Rail Road. Ballots will be tabulated on Friday, March 13. Eligible members who have not yet received a ballot should call the BLET National Division’s dedicated voicemail line to have one...
BLET members ratify new four-year contract with Alstom/MARC
On February 26, BLET members voted unanimously to ratify a new four-year contract with Alstom. The contract cover locomotive engineers who operate Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains in the Washington-Baltimore area. The agreement covers the period from Jan. 1,...
BLET hails introduction of Railway Safety Act of 2026 in U.S. House of Representatives
On March 2, Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), along with co-leads Nick LaLota (R-NY), Michael Rulli (R-OH), John Garamendi (D-CA), introduced a companion bill to the Railway Safety Act of 2026 in the U.S. House Representatives. It matches the Senate measure that was...
BLET chalks up another organizing win as Austin Western workers say yes to union representation
Train and engine service employees at the Austin Western Railroad (AWRR) overwhelmingly voted to join the BLET in an election certified by the National Mediation Board in late February. Including this victory, BLET has won 15 representation elections in the past three...
Black History Month: Teamsters honor legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Earlier this month, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters unveiled a new bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Teamsters Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The bust honors the special relationship shared between Dr. King and the Teamsters Union during his lifetime...
BLET backs bills guaranteeing extra pay for working on federal holidays, paid sick leave
The BLET and Teamsters Rail Conference have thrown their support behind two U.S. Senate bills that will improve the pay and benefits of all Americans, including rail workers. Holiday Pay: The “Holiday Pay Act,” introduced by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), would require...
Daily Headlines
CN announces Q4, full-year 2025 results
CN reported revenues of C$4,464 million and operating income of C$1,733 million.
Norfolk Southern reports Q4, full-year 2025 results
For the fourth quarter of 2025, NS reported revenue of $3.0 billion and income from railway operations of $937 million.
CPKC reports Q4, full-year 2025 results
CPKC announced its fourth-quarter 2025 revenues of $3.9 billion.
Union Pacific reports Q4, full-year 2025 results
UP reported 2025 fourth quarter net income of $1.8 billion
CSX announces Q4, full-year 2025 results
CSX Corp. announced fourth quarter 2025 operating income of $1.11 billion and net earnings of $720 million.
Railroads thwart safety fixes, costing lives
Fatigue-related accidents killed at least nine people and injured over 300 from 2015 through 2024, the Howard Center’s analysis of NTSB investigation reports found.
Associated Press: BLET, BMWED oppose UP-NS merger
“This proposed monopoly will end up costing businesses more and those costs will be passed on to consumers,” BLET National President Mark Wallace said.
UP, NS shareholders support $85 billion merger
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board must still approve it before the deal can be completed.
NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal accident involving BLET member working as a BNSF conductor
The worker killed was identified as 52-year-old Daniel Peterson of Billings, Mont., a member of BLET Division 232 (Laurel, Montana).
CN reports Q3 2025 results
CN reported that its net income was C$1,139 million in Q3 2025, an increase of C$54 million, or 5%.
